Graduate Assistant Spotlight: Braxton Zeigler
6/18/2020 12:55:00 PM | Athletics Department
MACON, Ga. – Over the next few weeks MercerBears.com will be speaking with several graduate assistants in the Mercer University Athletics department. These people work behind the scenes while working toward their master's degree. It's our hope that after reading each of these articles, Bear fans will come to appreciate just how important each person is to Mercer success.
Our next profile focuses on Braxton Zeigler, an athletic trainer for Mercer Athletics. He sat down with MercerBears.com for a short interview which follows below:
Describe your job description?
Athletic trainers do jobs like tape or brace people to prevent injuries before competition, evaluate injuries, give emergency care or first aid, create rehabilitation plans and go through them with injured athletes, and record patient injury, healing and recovery.
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How did you get started in this career field?
I suffered a gruesome injury in high school and spent a lot time with the Athletic Training Staff which sparked my interest and lead to my future career in Athletic Training. Â
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What's a typical day for you?
I usually start my day in the morning with some general treatment hours for the multiple teams that I am responsible for. Then I take a lunch and come back and get ready to cover practice for the indoor volleyball team by setting up water and taping and other pre-practice treatment for the girls. After practice I provide ice and other recovery methods and then cleanup to get ready for the next day.
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What are some challenges you face as a graduate assistant, and what are the rewards?
The challenges are balancing long hours of work and graduate school itself. Â Rewards would be I meet a lot of new people that become lifetime friends and gaining more experience in my career field.Â
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Fun Facts
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Our next profile focuses on Braxton Zeigler, an athletic trainer for Mercer Athletics. He sat down with MercerBears.com for a short interview which follows below:
Describe your job description?
Athletic trainers do jobs like tape or brace people to prevent injuries before competition, evaluate injuries, give emergency care or first aid, create rehabilitation plans and go through them with injured athletes, and record patient injury, healing and recovery.
Â
How did you get started in this career field?
I suffered a gruesome injury in high school and spent a lot time with the Athletic Training Staff which sparked my interest and lead to my future career in Athletic Training. Â
Â
What's a typical day for you?
I usually start my day in the morning with some general treatment hours for the multiple teams that I am responsible for. Then I take a lunch and come back and get ready to cover practice for the indoor volleyball team by setting up water and taping and other pre-practice treatment for the girls. After practice I provide ice and other recovery methods and then cleanup to get ready for the next day.
Â
What are some challenges you face as a graduate assistant, and what are the rewards?
The challenges are balancing long hours of work and graduate school itself. Â Rewards would be I meet a lot of new people that become lifetime friends and gaining more experience in my career field.Â
Â
Fun Facts
- Birthplace: Macon, GA
- College: Valdosta State University
- Favorite Sports Team other than Mercer: Atlanta Hawks
- Favorite Phrase: Everything happens for a reason!
- Favorite Social Media: Snapchat
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